Windrider Rave 

For the ultimate performance in sailing! We don't know another way of expressing the thrill of sailing the Rave. The Rave is faster than most speedboats and can certainly be faster than any other sailing boat on the water. Sailing is probably not the right term, we prefer to say "Flying", because it resembles that the most.

The Rave is a hydrofoil boat. Or more specific, a T-foil assisted trimaran. She is a very practical production boat, and certainly not an experimental craft. She is a two-seater, but is being sailed single-handed. The sailor sits in the rear seat, the passenger in the front seat, just like in a two-seater airplane. She can be used for racing, but because of her simplicity, she is quite practical for recreational sailing as well. Once you've got the feeling how to operate the foils it's very easy because you don't need to do any acrobatics in order to keep the boat upright. It is almost impossible to capsize the boat. The boat is fun for people of all ages.  And she is faster then any production sailboat, of course, when there is enough wind (she starts flying from a windspeed of 7 -8 knots when the crew weight is 30 - 50 kg - see specifications) The chance of damaging the boat is very small because the hulls are made out of durable polyethylene and the foils and beams are made out of a special grade aircraft aluminium alloy.

How does it work?
The Rave has three T-foils, one under each outrigger and one under the rudder. The foils of the outriggers and rudder have trimflaps, which are used to control the flying height above the water. The trimflaps are operated semi automatically:

• Sensitive sensors drag through the water which measure the distance between the hull and the surface of the water and which control the trimflaps. They only operate over a specific range of windforce.
• The sailor operates a set of bungee cords, that adjusts the operating range of the automatic sensors: tightening the cords lowers the flying height (necessary when the wind increases beyond the operating range of the sensors), letting go increases the flying height (necessary when the wind decreases).
• When the windforce is fairly constant, the bungee cords can be fastened and the Rave is on automatic control by the sensors. Only when the windspeed varies, the bungy cords must be handled.
• The flap on the rudder is being operated through a joystick, changing the pitch of the boat for more speed or easier take-off.

The steering is done with the feet so that the sailor has both hands free which allows him to adjust the sails, control the bungees or to wave at other (slower) sailors.

While sailing you loose the bungees completely, letting the foils create maximum lift. At take-off speed you gently put tension on the bungees to level the Rave. Sheet in the jib sheet, the nose goes down and away you are. It is like putting on the after-burner. The hissing of the foils is the only sound you hear. Because the apparent wind is blowing head on, you can sheet in your main and jib. It's like sailing on ice. Speeds up to 1,75 times the true windspeed are possible.

Once flying you'll need to be careful. The tendency of heading up during a gust of wind must be suppressed. The boat could jump out of the water. The right thing to do is bearing away and put more tension on the bungees. Turning is easier by gybing, rather than tacking because that way the Rave will keep flying. Making a flying gybe creates awesome G-forces similar to flying a stuntplane!

Safety note: We do not recommend that this boat be sailed at extreme speeds without considering the risks involved. At extreme speeds, this boat must be considered as any racecar. The manufacturer does not guarantee the boat above the speed of 26 knots (30 mph). 

After reading this information, we can imagine that you want to know more about the Windrider Rave. This is possible:

	By looking at the technical specifications, movies and pictures
	By looking at the website of the manufacturer
	By ordering our video on the oderpage
	By making a testsail
	By looking at the prices and accessories